Hideaki Tokunaga

Biography

Hideaki Tokunaga (德永 英明, Tokunaga Hideaki; born February 27, 1961 in Yanagawa, Fukuoka) is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter.
Although Tokunaga failed to pass the test of Star Tanjō! in 1982, he debuted as a recording singer in 1986. After he released hit songs such as "Yume o Shinjite" (the first ending theme of the anime series Dragon Quest) and "Kowarekake no Radio" in 1990, his single "Wednesday Moon" reached No. 1 on Oricon weekly charts in 1991. He was also known for Vocalist album series, comprising his covers of female songs. Vocalist, Vocalist 2, Vocalist 3 and Vocalist 4 were released in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010 respectively.
Tokunaga is the first male artist to have at least one album to reach the number-one position on the Japanese Oricon weekly charts for four decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s).
Tokunaga also composed other singers' songs such as KinKi Kids' "Eien Ni" (from their 2007 album Phi).
Tokunaga gained high popularity in Hong Kong due to huge number of songs covered in Cantonese version by superstars such as Alan Tam, Leslie Cheung, Jackie Cheung, and Leon Lai.

Career

Tokunaga took part in the Japanese television program Star Tanjō! in 1982. The program produced many Japanese stars such as Momoe Yamaguchi, Pink Lady and Akina Nakamori. However, Akiko Matsumoto passed the test at that time, while Tokunaga and Minako Honda were rejected.
On January 21, 1986, Tokunaga debuted with the album Girl and the single "Rainy Blue". In 1987, his third studio album Birds×BIRDS21 May 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1輝きながら…4:302シック4:283ため息のステイ3:374ノースリーブのクリスマス4:555夏の素描4:526BIRDS4:117君は悲しいギター4:158さよならの水彩画4:289Silent good-night～君のために…4:5810レター4:08 reached the number-one position on the Japanese Oricon charts. Revolution from 1991 had been his last number-one album until 2007.
In the early 1990s, the song "Saigo no Iiwake" (最後の言い訳; lit. "Last Excuse") from Tokunaga's 1989 album Realize×REALIZE21 May 1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1君の青5:372眠れない夜4:213ラバーズ4:264You're in the Sky〜Eolia〜5:355そして星になったよ4:456恋人4:547コバルトに消えたブルー4:528MYSELF～風になりたい～5:519最後の言い訳6:2810僕の時計4:12 became well-known in the Philippines, when it was covered by Ted Ito as "Ikaw Pa Rin", Keempee de Leon as "My One and Only", Maso as "Kailanman", and as an instrumental by saxophonist Jake Concepcion.
Tokunaga began to release the Vocalist album series, in which he covered many Japanese songs of female singers. On September 14, 2005, he released the album Vocalist×VOCALIST14 September 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1時代4:382ハナミズキ5:223駅4:464異邦人4:435シルエット・ロマンス4:316LOVE LOVE LOVE3:337秋桜4:168涙そうそう4:339オリビアを聴きながら5:1110ダンスはうまく踊れない4:3411会いたい4:5712翼をください4:3613卒業写真4:31, the first work of the series. The album includes his cover versions of Miyuki Nakajima's 1975 song "Jidai" and Momoe Yamaguchi's 1977 song "Cosmos". Vocalist was certified Million by RIAJ for shipment of 1,000,000 copies.
On August 30, 2006, Tokunaga released Vocalist 2. The album includes his cover versions of Akina Nakamori's 1982 song "Second Love" and Mika Nakashima's 2003 song "Yuki no Hana". Vocalist 2 was certified Triple Platinum by RIAJ for shipment of 750,000 copies.
On August 15, 2007, Tokunaga released Vocalist 3, which includes his cover versions of Akiko Kobayashi's 1985 song "Koi ni Ochite -Fall in Love-" and Every Little Thing's 1998 song "Time Goes By". His cover version of Namie Amuro's 1997 song "Can You Celebrate?" was the final track of the album, but there was also a first press limited edition which included a bonus track, his cover version of Naomi Chiaki's 1972 song "Kassai". Vocalist 3 reached the number-one position on the Oricon weekly album charts, making it his first number-one album in 15 years 10 months. Vocalist 3 topped the Oricon weekly album charts for two weeks. The album was certified Million by RIAJ for shipment of 1,000,000 copies.
On November 1, 2007, Tokunaga also covered Noriko Awaya's "Wakare no Blues" at the Tokyo International Forum as a part of Ryoichi Hattori's 100th Anniversary Concert.
On May 6, 2009, Tokunaga released his studio album We All×WE ALL6 May 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1ことば2花束3砂時計4小さな祈り ～P.S.アイラヴユー5輝きの詩6ガラスの星座7翼はなくても8風と空と海と9やさしいね10透徹の空11大事にするよ12愛をえらぼう13WE ALL. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon weekly album charts. With the album, he became the first solo male artist who debuted in 1980s to have at least one studio album to top the Oricon weekly charts for three decades (1980s, 1990s and 2000s).
Tokunaga released the single "Toki no Nagare ni Mi wo Makase" on March 31, 2010. It was his cover version of Teresa Teng's 1986 song and its B-sides were his cover versions of Seiko Matsuda's 1982 song "Akai Sweet Pea" and Juju's 2009 song "Yasashisa de Afureru Yō ni." Those songs were included by the album Vocalist 4×VOCALIST 420 April 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1時の流れに身をまかせ4:002赤いスイートピー4:013First Love4:244翳りゆく部屋5:305セーラー服と機関銃4:566誰より好きなのに4:437あばよ3:428月光5:149やさしさで溢れるように5:0810未来へ5:1811待つわ4:2012あの鐘を鳴らすのはあなた4:2813未来予想図4:3614ラヴ・イズ・オーヴァー4:35, released on April 20, 2010. The album included his cover version of Hikaru Utada's 1999 song "First Love." Vocalist 4 debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon weekly charts. Because of the album, he became the first male artist to have at least one album to top the Oricon weekly charts for four decades.

Health issues

In May 2001, Tokunaga cancelled his concert tour after being diagnosed with moyamoya disease. He returned to performing live shows in November 2002 after one and a half years of treatment and recovery. On February 22, 2016, Tokunaga underwent bypass surgery to prevent cerebral infarction. On July 15, Tokunaga was forced to postpone several dates on his 30th anniversary concert tour when he was diagnosed with acute laryngo pharyngitis after experiencing a sore throat following a show in Kobe.
On September 4, 2018, Tokunaga was hospitalized after experiencing dizzy spells while talking to his staff at his office. He was diagnosed with a light stroke caused by dehydration and was confined for a week, resulting in the postponement of four concerts in his schedule.

VHS

Live Special Vol. 1: Dear (1988)
Live Special Vol. 2: Sound Shower Sincerely (1988)
Myself Vol. 1 (1989)
Myself Vol. 2 (1989)
Revolution on Film (1992)
Kaikisen (1992)
The End of A (1994)

DVD/Blu-ray

Live and Clip Track (2000)
2001 to 2003: Bokura no Yume wa Ima Hajimatta Bakari (2003)
Vocalist Tracks (2005)
Beautiful Clips (2006)
Beautiful Lives (2007)
Tabi no Okurimono 0:00 Hatsu (2007)
Yakushiji Live (2008)
Vocalist & Songs ~ 1000th Memorial Live (2008)
Concert Tour '08-'09 Singles Best (2009)
A Day of Red Sun VII (2010)
Concert Tour 2009 (2010)
2009 Live Special Edition (2010)
Perfect Clips -Vocalist & Songs- (2011)
Concert Tour 2010: Vocalist & Songs 2 (2011)
25th Anniversary Concert Tour 2011: Vocalist & Ballade Best Final [Perfect Edition] (2012)
Concert Tour 2012: Vocalist Vintage & Songs (2013)
Concert Tour 2013: Statement (2014)
Concert Tour 2015: Vocalist & Songs 3 (2016)
Perfect Clips ~1986-2016~ (2016)
30th Anniversary Concert Tour 2016: All Time Best Presence (2017)
Concert Tour 2017: Baton (2018)
Concert Tour 2018: Eien no Hate ni (2019)